Photographic background



(No Model.)

C. FREDRICKS. P HOTOGRAPHIG BACKGROUND.

No. 453,313. Patented June 2,1891.

W/ TNE SSES ATTORNEYS i UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FREDRIOKS, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROU ND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,313, dated June 2,1891.

Application led November 20, 1890. Serial No. 372,117. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FREDRIcKs, a citizen of the United States.residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in PhotographicBackgrounds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the screens used as artificial backgrounds forsubjects in photographic studios; and the objects of my invention are toprovide for the support of the subjects in all sorts of positionswithout exposing the nature of the supports to the camera, to give aclear and distinct outline to and thus set off the subject in thephotograph, to allow of bringing the background into focus and henceclose to the subject, and in general to improve the effect of thephotograph, all by a simple and durable device.

The invention consists, mainly, of an artificial photographicbackground,preferably in the form of a solid screen, having a rough surface, WhichI now elect to make of overlaid strips of natural tree-bark, allsubstantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth and asclaimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a photographicscreen for use as an articial background faced With natural barkaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the saidscreen, showing the use therewith of supports for the subject.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures.

The body of the screen here represented is formed of an upright frame B,the front of which is Wholly covered with board C, and the whole issupported on spread legs D, and when necessary by inclined braces E.

The face of the screen-body is made rough and irregular, in thisinstance by flat strips F of natural bark, which are preferably arrangedso that the rough prolninences and irregular channels or depressionswill radiate approximately in lines from the center of the screen, andare fastened upon so as to coinpletely cover the body of the screen bynails or in any other convenient manner. Vith this construction thestandards of the headrests, arm-rests, and other supports used forsubjects to be photographed are placed behind the screen, as illustratedin Fig. 2, and apertures G are made in the screen, through which thearms of said supports are introduced Wherever necessary or desirable.The main parts of the supporting devices being` completely hidden bythescreen and the proj ecting arms thereof by the subject, nothing but thesubject and the background Will appear in the picture, so that subjectsmay be photographed in all sorts of quaint and otherwise impossiblepositions without disclosing the natu're of their support. As thesupports are Withdrawn and introduced through other parts of the screenwith changes of subjects, ttc., the apertures previously receiving` themare filled with plugs Il, having heads preferably rough like the face ofthe screen, which, owing to the rough and irregular character of theface of the screen,will be Wholly unnoticed in the picture. This roughfacing moreover can be and generally should be photographed in focus,unlike ordinary painted screens which are photographed out of focus, andhence, being close to the subject, afford better and less observablesupports for the subject.

The peculiar background gives a clean and distinct outline to thesubject in the photograph and brings it out in relief.

Owing to the solid character of this screen the standards or bodies ofthe supports may be fixed pivotally or otherwise adjustably to the backof the screen itself instead of being independent of the screen.

I claim as my inventionl. A photographic background formed of a screenmade with a rough face of rigid material, as natural bark, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. An artificial photographic background faced with strips 0f naturalbark, arranged radially, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

Asolid photographic background screen having a rough rigid face providedWith aper- ICO tures for the introduction of supports for the inheforeSet forth, with an npertured Solid subjects, substantially ashereinbefore set photographic background having :L :rough 1o forth.face, of plugs for the sind apertures having 4. The combination,substantially as hereheads like the rough face. 5 nbefore set forth,with an apertured solid CHARLES FREDRICKS.

photographic background having a rough Witnesses: face, of plugs for thesaid apertures. CLARENCE L. BURGER,

5. The combination, substantially as here- ROSCOE C. TOOMBS.

